Geologist earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level geologist earnings begin at:

$51.35 per hour

$106,820 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level geologist earnings begin at:

$43.78 per hour

$91,050 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level geologist earnings begin at:

$36.13 per hour

$75,140 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level geologist earnings begin at:

$27.85 per hour

$57,930 per year

10th percentile

Starting level geologist earnings begin at:

$23.05 per hour

$47,950 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Geologist salary by state

State Name Average Salary
Louisiana $98,720
Hawaii $97,910
Alaska $94,390
New Jersey $93,670
California $93,310
Mississippi $93,070
Colorado $91,440
Washington $88,060
Delaware $87,000
Maryland $86,970
Virginia $86,170
New Hampshire $85,870
Montana $85,780
Idaho $83,170
Florida $81,650
North Dakota $81,200
Massachusetts $81,180
Nevada $81,100
Rhode Island $80,750
Nebraska $78,920
Iowa $78,000
Minnesota $77,980
New Mexico $77,610
Kansas $77,590
West Virginia $76,960
Ohio $75,140
Puerto Rico $75,030
Connecticut $74,450
Tennessee $73,880
Wisconsin $73,140
Oregon $72,320
Utah $71,930
New York $71,050
Missouri $70,360
North Carolina $70,160
Kentucky $69,890
Arizona $69,744
South Carolina $69,700
Illinois $69,480
Wyoming $69,370
Michigan $68,240
Vermont $65,640
Maine $62,510
Georgia $62,040
Indiana $61,870
South Dakota $61,020
Alabama $58,940
Arkansas $52,440
Texas $131,710
District of Columbia $119,790
Oklahoma $113,690
Pennsylvania $108,580

How much does a Geologist earn?

Geologists are employed in many sectors, such as environmental consulting companies, oil companies, governmental agencies, engineering firms and nonprofit organizations, as well as colleges and universities. Salaries vary widely among sectors.

The oil sector and the mineral resource sector are both willing to pay handsome salaries to new geologists. However, a large number of geologists choose to work in the environmental and government sectors, and these employers tend to pay 10% to 40% less because they are not in such a demand-driven market. Having said that, employment in the environmental and government sectors is often more stable than the prices of commodities.

Geologists with a Ph.D. can teach geology at colleges and universities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for a college professor of geology is $83,140, with the bottom 10 percentile making $42,590 and the top 10 percentile making $152,270. Colleges and universities pay an average of $92,850, while community colleges pay an average of $87,200.

How do geologist salaries compare to similar careers?

Geologists earn about the same as related careers in Ohio. On average, they make less than statisticians but more than environmental consultants.

Career Median Salary
Statistician salary $79K
Hydrologist salary $80K
Food science technologist salary $68K
Occupational health specialist salary $73K
Animal scientist salary $69K
Geologist salary $75K
Climate change analyst salary $75K
Industrial ecologist salary $75K
Environmental restoration planner salary $75K
Environmental consultant salary $75K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)